A gang feud in Scotland’s central belt eased following a “resolution of differences” between groups, police have said.
A spate of violent crime began in Edinburgh in March last year and spread west, with incidents including fire-raising and attempted murders.
Police responded to 84 separate incidents of violence and disorder, made 64 arrests and executed 55 search and arrest warrants.
There was a “brief re-emergence” of such incidents earlier this year which led to more arrests.
The situation was described in a recent update provided in the name of Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell to the Scottish Police Authority.
The cause of that downturn was without question multi-factorial, including the resolution of differences within the serious and organised crime community
It stated: “Operation Portaledge was instigated in March 2025 following a wave of violence between serious organised crime groups throughout the central belt of Scotland.
“What followed was a deeply concerning ‘war’ between rivals, that would span six months and cover the length and breadth of Scotland before there was a clear and obvious downturn in activity.
“The cause of that downturn was without question multi-factorial, including the resolution of differences within the serious and organised crime community, however the impact of Police Scotland and partners’ efforts to co-ordinate, disrupt and detect offenders cannot be understated.”
The report said there was a brief re-emergence of incidents in January and February this year.
Police dealt with 10 further incidents and made five arrests during this period, with investigations continuing.
A number of people have been jailed following cases related to Operation Portaledge which have come to court.
Two men who carried out a petrol bomb attack on a house amid an escalating gang war were last month handed extended sentences for attempted murder.
Richard Ordish, 19, and Kurtis Young, 42, previously admitted “wilfully” setting fire to a property in the Hay Drive area of Edinburgh on April 4 last year, damaging the building and another in the street, and endangering the lives of two people.
They pleaded guilty to attempting to murder the two people in an offence aggravated by a connection with serious organised crime.
The High Court in Glasgow heard the “callous” attack came amid an escalating gang feud in Scotland’s central belt which was being investigated by police as part of Operation Portaledge.
Lord Arthurson handed both men extended sentences of 15 years for Young and 11 years for Ordish when they returned to the court last month.
Young will serve 11 years behind bars while Ordish will spend seven years in custody and both will be supervised for four years on licence upon release.
In February, a man who set fire to businesses as part of a gang feud was jailed for more than seven years at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Logan Carlin, 24, threw bottles filled with accelerant into two properties in Edinburgh in March last year as part of an effort to intimidate a rival gang.
He first targeted a beauty salon on Albert Street on March 6 before going on to set fire to a garage on Milton Road East.